INDIA SLAMS PAK FOR RAISING J&K AT UNHRC, REJECTS OIC’S REMARKS

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday criticised Pakistan for again raising the Kashmir issue at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), saying Islamabad had failed to tackle terrorism or prevent the “systematic persecution” of religious minorities.

New Delhi’s position was conveyed in response to a speech by a Pakistani representative after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said restrictions on communications in J&K remained a concern.

“The council should ask Pakistan why the size of its minority communities such as Christians, Hindus and Sikhs has drastically shrunk since independence and why they and other communities, such as Ahmadiyas, Shias, Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baloch, have been subjected to draconian blasphemy laws, systemic persecution, blatant abuses and forced conversions,” Pawan Badhe, first secretary in India’s permanent mission in Geneva, said. The holy sites of Pakistan’s religious minorities have been “attacked and vandalised daily”, he added.

Badhe said Pakistan has “ignored that terrorism is the worst form of human rights abuse and the supporters of terrorism are the worst abusers of human rights”.

“The members of this council are well aware that Pakistan has provided pensions to dreaded and listed terrorists out of state funds and has the dubious distinction of hosting the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN,” he said.

India also rejected the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) statement on J&K, saying it has no locus standi to comment on the region which is an integral part of India. “It is regrettable that OIC continues to allow itself to be exploited by Pakistan to indulge in anti-india propaganda,” Badhe said.